Big toe hurts and I don't know why

AbyssUnderground · 06-07-2010, 19:07

I'll start by saying I have a doctors appointment in the morning but I'd like to know if anyone else has suffered this too.

3 days ago my big toe on my right started hurting, and I thought it was an ingrowing nail, so I cut my nail and thought nothing else of it. The next day the pain was worse, but I persisted. The next day (today) the pain is so bad I can barely walk on that foot or wear my work shoes (trainers I can just about wear).

The pain is not from the nail, its from the left of the nail parallel with the botto of the nail. It doesn't hurt much when not touching it, but hurts a lot when touching or walking on that foot. It doesn't appear to be red but might be swollen a little.

Has anyone had this before? Could it possibly be gout? Having not had this before I don't know what it could be.

I've tried ibuprofen gel on it twice today and it made no difference. I've now strapped it to the toe next to it which has helped a little, but it still hurts to walk on it.

Any suggestions or diagnosis would be welcome

Thanks in advance.

haydnwalker · 06-07-2010, 20:07

I've had this before but it only lasted a couple of days. Its unlikely its gout because gout only occurs on joints (its a crystalisation of lactic acid). I thought it was a bit of nail I'd not got after cutting them a couple of days before it started hurting.

Mine wasn't quite as bad as the "can't walk". Hope you find out what it is though and get it sorted.

papa smurf · 06-07-2010, 20:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by AbyssUnderground

I'll start by saying I have a doctors appointment in the morning but I'd like to know if anyone else has suffered this too.

3 days ago my big toe on my right started hurting, and I thought it was an ingrowing nail, so I cut my nail and thought nothing else of it. The next day the pain was worse, but I persisted. The next day (today) the pain is so bad I can barely walk on that foot or wear my work shoes (trainers I can just about wear).

The pain is not from the nail, its from the left of the nail parallel with the botto of the nail. It doesn't hurt much when not touching it, but hurts a lot when touching or walking on that foot. It doesn't appear to be red but might be swollen a little.

Has anyone had this before? Could it possibly be gout? Having not had this before I don't know what it could be.

I've tried ibuprofen gel on it twice today and it made no difference. I've now strapped it to the toe next to it which has helped a little, but it still hurts to walk on it.

Any suggestions or diagnosis would be welcome

Thanks in advance.

if its gout you usually have to be a boozing red meat eating trencherman ,to achieve this status at 21 you must have one hell of a good life

punky · 06-07-2010, 20:50

Its not gout as that collects in joints - normally where the big toe connects to the rest of the foot but can appear in any join.

FYI Hayden - its uric acid, not lactic. Lactic acid is what builds up in your muscles where you are exercising too hard.

AbyssUnderground · 06-07-2010, 21:04

Thanks guys, slightly more reassuring.

martyh · 06-07-2010, 21:05

no idea why your toe hurts ,but congrats on getting a doctors appointment... hope you get it sorted

haydnwalker · 06-07-2010, 23:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by punky

Its not gout as that collects in joints - normally where the big toe connects to the rest of the foot but can appear in any join.

FYI Hayden - its uric acid, not lactic. Lactic acid is what builds up in your muscles where you are exercising too hard.

Thanks for the correction...I knew what I meant

Matthew · 06-07-2010, 23:27

I had similar but on the three middle toes on my left food, hurt for a good week and looked slightly bruised but has gone now, was really struggling to walk with mine at one point.

MadGamer · 07-07-2010, 16:18

I was going to suggest that it may be a corn on the bottom of your foot. I've had one before and was in the sam position where I struggled to walk on it but got some treatment from the GP and it went after a couple of weeks.

AbyssUnderground · 07-07-2010, 16:21

I got to the doctors and he said it's either an infection or gout. Either way he's given me antibiotics and said it should be OK in the next 7 days or so. The pain didn't get any worse today. He said supplement the antibiotics with paracetamol and ibuprofen to ease the pain and swelling. I can't take ibuprofen because of my colitis but the paracetamol has helped.

EBD3000 · 08-07-2010, 15:22

I'd go to the Chiropodist/Podiatrist instead of the doctors if it doesn't go away.

Is the swelling bruised and shiny?
Is there pressure across the top of the nail?

AbyssUnderground · 08-07-2010, 15:31

Seems to be going down with the antibiotics. I can almost walk on it again.

It is swollen according to the doctor, and isn't that shiny really.
No pressure on the nail - that was my first though (ingrowing nail).

Seems to be going down. I have a blood test scheduled to find out what it was which can only be done a week after it's gone. I have a weeks worth of antibiotics to finish anyway, which seems to be doing the job

Hom3r · 08-07-2010, 18:43

I've had both gout & an ingrowing toe nail.

Bith were painfull, but gout was by far the worse, my left toe joint hurt for 5 days and standing, walking, sitting & laying, didn't help. So I got no sleep for 5 days, I was given "Naproxen" IIRC, and that cleared it up.

Matty_ · 08-07-2010, 19:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hom3r

I've had both gout & an ingrowing toe nail.

Your just showing off now

jrhnewark · 09-07-2010, 00:15

People still get gout? That's hilarious.

Apparently you break many of your toes during your lifetime and don't even realise it...